Precision, speed, and spectacle - those are the hallmarks of the Patriots Jet Team, the largest civilian-owned aerobatic jet team in the western hemisphere. For years, they’ve been thrilling spectators at airshows around the country, flying in tight formation with streams of red, white, and blue smoke trailing behind!
But it’s not just about flying fast - it’s about inspiring the next generation of aviators and getting more young people engaged with STEM. When they fly, the team seems so much larger than life, but on the ground, they have a down to Earth gift to share with a world’s worth of meaning: custom challenge coins.
The custom coins designed for the Patriots Jet Team have a lot of amazing details. Their most recent design has an iconic image of the team flying in formation with smoke trailing behind. It’s a striking representation of one of their more popular stunts. They’ve also included the Patriots Jet Team Foundation logo with its red, white, and blue stars and swirling jets.
They’ve also included three core values they uphold and share with others - Precision, Professional, and Passionate. If you run into the team at an airshow, these aren’t the only coins you might see. They’ve created coins with a pair of their L-39 Albatros aircraft flying in tight formation against a translucent blue background. Their first design included a young spectator pointing up into the sky as their jet’s fly overhead, trails of red, white, and blue smoke flying behind!
All of these coins are shared with team members, key supporters, and young people involved in the Patriots Jet Team Foundation: a nonprofit dedicated to inspiring youth through STEM education and aviation. The hope is that these coins become more than just a souvenir from a day at the airfield. The team wants to build connections beyond the cockpit, so each coin becomes a physical connection to the Patriots Jet Team and their values of excellence, education, and service!
It’s amazing to see how the organization is using aviation as a platform for STEM learning, and for showing young people what’s possible with hard work and determination. When program volunteers, students, and fans all carry these coins, they’re carrying the legacy of the Patriots Jet Team.
The tradition of sharing and trading challenge coins is famous in the military, and has been used to boost morale, honor service, and celebrate wins. The Patriots Jet Team has adopted that tradition, and uses coins to reinforce the bond between aviation professionals and community members of all ages.
Here at All About Challenge Coins, we’re honored to play a small part in the team’s story by helping design the custom coins they take to the skies! If you want to create a coin that shares your team’s story and celebrates all your successes, we’re here to help! Send us a few ideas, and we’ll get started right away!
